So many of us give of our time. Whether it’s volunteering at our child’s school, at our church, or in our community – we can have the wrong motivation in being involved.

I believe that God wants us to give of ourselves. I believe He wants us to help the needy, the poor, to share, and to love. But is it really love if we tell everyone what we have done? Do we really serve if we serve from a heart that is hoping everyone will notice our efforts?

I read a verse in the Bible that talked about our rewards in heaven. It mentioned that it is those things done in secret that will get rewarded. It got me to thinking about how many times I have told someone something I have done for someone else in the hopes that they will be proud of me, admire me, or want to emulate my actions. And I’m ashamed of that. For when I do that, it kind of defeats the selfless giving that I did in the first place!

I now understand why God doesn’t want us to boast about how much we help someone else. He wants us to do something out of a heart that is filled with His love. He wants us to be willing to give our money, our time, and our hearts without needing, wanting, or expecting recognition for what we have done. If we can sacrifice something, if we can deny ourselves something in order for someone else to benefit – then that is true service.

I want to live the kind of life and be the kind of person that can do for others regardless of who may be watching. I want to be able to do great things for others knowing there will be no applause from anyone else. To me, that is true service and true love.